Pick and pick loom



Feb. 19, 1957 w. E. KIMMEL 2,781,793

PICK AND PICK LOOM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 5, 1955 FIG.2 A' 2 7 G 8 NoN-Aurounw 6 RG LG 8 Auommc RG 6\ IY Enron-Pimm; sang? m I l Sl il-zi EEZ-E s| El? 11F-5121 :l mi@ ATTORNEY Feb. 19, 1957 w. E. KIMMEL 2,781,793

prox AND Prox Loom Filed July 5, 1955 SsheStS-SheetZ FIG. 3

mwlsmw XOXOXOXOXO oXoXoXo 0X0 o o O o o 0,0 o o o o o 06Go o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o-`u Aurommc INVENToR WILLIAM E. KIMMEL OXOXXO ATTORNEY Feb. 19, 1957 w. KIMMEL 2,781,793

PICK AND PICK LOOM Filed July 5, 1.955 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG] ELE MEF'LE @Exon-Pickin@ mENOr-Elgxmsg @Eri-1E @WE1-E @E se "E IUE SB E IND-SB X am@ .1999@ @#S E TRN$.SB

QUE sA E ME SB E anni; -SB T T. :w11- E l l I -l QIXI Il NON-PIGKING X SA KEW-E 1 sa INVE NTO R WILLIAM E. KIMMEL ATTORNEY matic period the bunch of weft from the bobbins.'

United States Patent This is a continuationin partof 1 r 1y c opending application Serial No. 389,558 filedgNoyember y 2, 1 953, Anm/ abandoned.

This invention relates to improvements vin pick and pick looms and it is thegeneral object of the. inventiontoprovide such a loom whiclnwill weavepick and pick .wit h two shuttles but can attain a higherrateof production than is possible in lgnown looms.

Weftreplenishing loomsweaving pik'and pick and utilizing three shuttles for the purpose pt mixingilling are in general u sez but whensuch loomsare used to Vweave with two weft layingshuttles it hasbeen practice `heretofcre to use a third blankshuttle which ispickedinthe sequence used iorllingmixing but which does not lay 'a pick of thread. The use ofthe. blanksliuttle greatly reducesthe productionpossibili'ty of the.loomlge cau se for 'each three beatsof lthe VVloom onlyjtwothreadsvwill be laid in the cloth. Sharkskin may .bementioned \as a fabric which requires two shuttle'pick and pick operation:

A much higher production `rate vcan be attainedginr nonautomatic weaving so long as the loom cc'intinues'to run, but 'in nonautomatic lweaving t'herisfthe objection that the loom will stop V fre'ql'rently for handieplenis'hrncntof thejdepd shuttles.

It is the purpose of the .present inventionzto provide a loom which will operate for a Vshort perio'dfof low production during Whichautomaticreplenishment can be effected andthen operate fof fanother 'period,-.preferab`ly longer, ofhgh production during whichjautomatic r'eplenishment cannot loccurly As an example, the loommay operateautomaticaHy' for six successive picks and'then operate nonautomatically for twelve picks,y and then return to yautomatic operation. During theperiod of automatic `weaving onlytwothirds of the beats of the loom will be productive, or four beats, but during theperiod of nonautomaticweaving 1all fasset forth hereinbeforetolthe:Weaving ,of, a pickl and .viously mentioned results.

2,781,793 fiPatented Feb.

'ice

tion to providemeans which will inactivate the weft replenishing mechanism of the loom during Vthe periodof nonautomatic weaving. .This can conveniently be done by a control exercised by a pattern Achain which prevents operation of the weft detector mechanism, butthis isvnot the only way in which the control can be exercised.

.lt.is. a `further object of'the inventiontoprovide an improved methodlfor .operating a twoshuttle pick and .pick loom .in .such manner as to `accomplishthe ..pre-

As .setiforth hereinafter .the invention mayzbe used .in connection with either two or four stacksfo'f a four stack .stationary magazine goftthe lusual multicolor .type. When two stacks are used each .stack w'ill'icarry hobbns .different froml those of. theother stack. .-Whemfourstacks areused replenishment of fone shuttlewilll beetfectedby .tbobbins drawn from two stacks .and replenishment'of .the other shuttle by. bobbins .drawn from..the' ,remaining .two stacks. `Withfourtstacks .thetrstihalf `of the "con- 4trol chain will enable bobbins to be drawnt'rom thefront .pair of stacks' and the second half of .the chain will Tenable ibobbins to be drawn from they rear kpair of stacks. With two stacks only the riirstshalf of `the control chain will be necessary. V

During the .period ofautomatic ,Weaving certain picks 'twillbe blank with no shuttle in ight. ItisaLfurther .object of the invention, to move the shuttle boxesinsu'ch ,.angorder as will insurepresence of a shuttleiin activegpo- ,sition in orderto operate the loom .protector mechanism. .on the aforesaid blank picks. f

.It is a.'furtheriobject .of the. invention to adapt a. loom pick fabridwith two-distinctive w'efts of diiferentasizes. In order ,thatithe invention maybe clearly understood reference is made tothe accompanying drawingswhich .Aillustrateby way o f examplethree cmbodimentsof -the invention `and iny which:

Fig. l1 is a front elevationof aloomhaving the preferred: form of,t he 'invention `applied thereto,

"twelve beats will fbeproductive During ,the tworgieriods ample and the invention @isnotl li'n'iited to, this'fparticular number offpic'ks in' the automatic operation. Y

in' ordery Vto guard against ,the possibilityfpf exhaustion of weft during aperiod 'of nonautomatic we vigif'i'sfa periods fof automatic Varrclnonfurther object pt theinyention tomprovid he o bbins for each shuttle with a reservebnch of weft S entlylarge tofbeable toQOntinue weaving until Vthe"automatic--p'er'i'id is reached,v no matter at what ypoint during' the; nonautoln order that the loom may operatewithnonautornatic and also automatic" peri ods Ait vis prevent operation of y.the automatic maybe Vreached ir 1' the unwinding anletricweft.detectoraused vn the loom,

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing asequence ,of

eighteenheats of the lojom and the ,positions of` the `shut- .i tiet-boxes and shuttleshfor eachA beat,

4 Fi g. 3 is a diagrammaticview taken in 4the ysaine dik r ec t i on as Fig. 1 butshowing the stack control lmechanisrn for the ,magazine zwhether the preferredfo'rm 'usir 1 g t wo s tacks ormodited form Y using `four {stacksyis used,

Fig. 4 is a detail view of a bobbin such Vas maybe used in .themagazinefor Areplenishment of the shuttles, .-F ig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the circuitfor Fig 61 is a draftof .the control chain vwhich can be used with. the modiedjorm of theinventiomthe first @h .alf .the draftrepresenting ,alhain whichis vusable with therreterred form, l f

Pig. 7 is rsimilartodig .2 ibut shows/. the. =invent ion adapted to the weaving of we f ts o f twodiiferent sizes,

and Figs. s ande showk ,two .bQbbinS haring wefts tof .dif-

the rnethc'dnf opgraterent Sizes fpr use as indicated @in .Referring to Y Fig- 1; thalgmiram Q1. `includes.ffleotsides. 2, a breast beam and-arches@ :The ,16.01.11, .has altar yof 5 having at the right hand end thereof a2-gang Gfhitftigshutfle bfOXS indudinsftep and hatfqmbox sells V6 and f7., -respetivel'yand11m/inseriti@ left" hand fend a vSword sans 'LG having top, and bvttomellsi adfespfively- The sanas wrerate uithshuttles i S1. and S2 and areshiftble verticallyO with re sp ect to the .lay-so that any c ellor shuttle, box canfb iiiactivefposi- "tion aligned with thelay atthe normal .t boxi g; @Each .gang issu'pported on which is lifted by a exlble connector, the connector for the gang RG being shown at 11 and that for the gang ,LG being shown at 12. The rods 1d are surrounded by coil springs 13 through which is transmitted a lifting force to raise the boxes from their low to their high positions when the corresponding connectors are placed under tension. The usual push down springs 14 are employed to assist in down motion of `the shuttle boxes when the connectors are slackened.

The vertical position of the shuttle boxes is determined by a head motion designated generally yat H, which in the present instance has two box levers 15 and 16 attached to the previously described connectors for effecting rising ,and falling motions of the gangs RG and LG respectively.

For the purpose of picking the shuttles the loom is provided with right and left hand picker sticks and 21 respectively, each operated by a cam 22 on a picker shaft 23 rockable in the loom fra-me. The loom lhas a bottom shaft 24 which rotates yonce for every two beats of the loom and has mounted -thereon picking arms 25 and 26 for actuation, respectively, of the sticks 20 and 21. Each arm is slidable on and keyed to the -shaft 24, the sliding motion being effected by levers 27 and 28 for the arms 25 and 26 respectively. A rod 29 connects these levers so that they move in unison.

Each arm is provided with two picking rolls 30 which can be slid into or out of register with the corresponding cam 22. As shown in Fig. l the arms 25 `and 26 have been moved to the left so that the rolls 36 of arm 25 are out of register with the right hand cam 22 to prevent operation of the picker stick 20 While the rolls 30 of the arm 26 have been moved into register with the left hand cam 22 for operation of the picker stick 21. The reason forV having two of the rolls 30 on each arm is that the loom is of pick and pick type and it is desirable to be able to perform two successive picking operations from the same end of the loom. Control of the position of the arms 25 vand 26 is through a rod 31 extending between an arm 32 on `lever 28 `and a lever 33 pivoted at 34 on the loom arches. By means of Ithe picking mechanism described a shuttle can be picked from either end of the loom on any beat thereof.

VThe right hand end of the loom is provided with a reserve bobbin magazine M which as indicated in Fig. 3 is of the four stack type having stacks which yare indicated diagrammatically `at 35, 36, 37, and 38. The magazine -i-s provided with a stack selector 39 which is slidable horizontally into registry with the four stacks, one at a time, by a lever 40 attached to a connector 41 which extends across the loom -to the head mechanism H. The magazine M also includes -a transferrer yarm 42, and is associated with a weft detector D which in the present instance is of the side slipping electrically indicating type.

This detector -or feeler rises and falls with the gang RG by reason of a rod the lower end of which'is attached to the adjacent box lifter rod 1G., The detector register with the upper shuttle box -orcell 6 whether the latter be in the'up position as indicated in Fig. l or down in alignment with the lay 5. Y

` As shown diagrammatically in Fig. 5 the detector D includes an arm 46 swingable about a pivot 47 and having a feeler tip 4S Vfor engagement with weft on ythe bobbin of the shuttle in cell `6. Ordinarily, when there is suicient yarn on the bobbin to prevent indication by Ythe detector the pivoted arm 46 will be in the position shown -in Fig. 5 in full lines so that the arm does not engage an electric contact 4.9. part of the weft on the bobbin being detected has been depleted the detector will then swing to ,the'dotted line position Ashown in Fig. 5 to close the contact 49.

The circuit for controlling lthe magazine by mea-ns of the detector as shown in Fig. 5 includes a source of power E, a wire 50 leading from the power source to the detector, another wire `51 leading from contact 49 If, however, the main to a switch 52, a contact 53 for engagement with the switch v52, Ia wire 54 leading from contact 53 to a solenoid 55 and another wire 56 leading from the solenoid back to the source of power. The solenoid controls the position of a trip pin 57 for a lever 5S forming part Vof the magazine and controlling the color selector 39 by means of rod 59. This lever has a downward motion every second beat of the loom when the lay is at or near its front center position, and when there is sufiicient weft in the shuttle being detected the detector will not rock to close contact 49, but if insufficient weft weft is presen-t the detector rocks to close the circuit and cause the solenoid to move the pin 57 under the lever 58 to interrupt downward motion of the latter, whereupon the magazine is set for @transferring operation which will occur on the next forward beat of the loom. The detector is subject to other controls, such as being prevented from indicating when gang RG is descending and being withdrawn on bobbin changing beats, not shown herein but set forth in Patents Nos. 2,333,904 and 2,360,852. It is to be understood that the weft detector shown in Fig 5 is only one form which can be used with the invention.

\Much of the matter thus far described is of known construction and for a further understanding of certain part-s already set forth `reference may be made to the aforesaid patents.

4In carrying the invention into effect the shuttles S1 and S2 are provided with bobbins B1 and B2 respectively, one of which is shown in Fig. 4. The weit-s of the bobbins are diverse, as black and white. The shuttles are picked alternately so that a single pick laid by one shuttle will be followed by a single pick laid by the other shuttle to produce a two-color pick `and pick fabric, such as sharkskin.

The control means for certain parts of ythe matter already described comprises a pattern chain i shown in Fig. 6. This pattern chain is mounted in the usual position on the head mechanism H to effect rising and falling movements of levers over the chain. The draft of this chain indicates thirty-six bars, but `as already mentioned the rst eighteen of these bars indicated at I-XVIII can be used in the preferred form of the invention when it is desired to draw reserve bobbins from the front pair of stacks 35 and 36. In the draf-t of this pattern chain shown in Fig. 6 the mark X represents a large roll 'and the small circles represent a small roll or sinker.

The left hand column a controls the position of the gang RG and the column c controls the gang LG. The column d controls the lever 33 to determine which of ythe picking arms 25 or 26 shall register with its cam 22, and column f controls the switch 52 of the weft derector cir-cuit. Column b controls the elevation of lever 60 which is attached by a flexible connector 61 `and a bell crank lever 62 to the connector 41 to determine the horizontal position of the color selector 39. The column e controls "t-h filling fork (not shown) to prevent operation of the weft stop motion on the blank or nonpi-cking beats of the loom which occur during the periods of automatic operation, as will be more fully described hereinafter. This mechanism is of known type andthe column ef is provided simply to complete the draft of the chain.

In'Fig. 2 the positions of the boxes are represented by Roman numerals I-XVIII corresponding to the bars of the chain represented by l-XVIiI of the pattern chain P. The rst twelve positions shown in'Fig. 2, I-Xil, and

the rst twelve bars I-XII of chain'l, correspond to what memos lef't on the third beat, shuttle S2 moves to the right on the fourth beat, etc. The first twelves bars of the chain determine the position of the shuttle boxes and also the positions of the picking arms 25 and 26 to effect the sequence or period indicated in the left hand part of Fig. 2 under the heading Nonautomatic.

During this period of nonautomatic weaving it is necessary to prevent the weft detector from being able to indicate weft exhaustion and the feeler control column f will cause a high roll to move under switch 52 for beats I, VI and X on which there is a shuttle in box 6 to prevent the weft detector, should it slip and close contact 49 during the nonautomatic period of weaving,from energizing -the solenoid 55 and initiating a replenishing operation.

The first twelve bars, column f, could, of course, all be provided with large rolls, if desired.

It is to be understood that the weft replenishing operation involves two steps, the rst being by the detector when shuttle box 6 is rising when the lay is in the forward part of its reciprocating motion, and the second step of bobbin transfer occurring when the lay reaches its next front center position. The diagram shown in Fig. 2 indicates that shuttle S2 is in the top box 6 for beat I, that shuttle S1 is in the top box 6 for beat VI, and' that shuttle S1 is again in top box 6 on beat X. Since operation of the magazine cannot occur during the nonautomatic period of operation there is no need' for determining the position of the color selector 39 during this period and the selector can be left in register with the front stack 35 by having column b provided with low rolls for the iirst twelve beats. Thecolumn e can also contain low rolls for the first twelve beats since the filling stop motion will be operative throughout the nonautomatic period. Fig. 2 shows in the right hand part thereof under the heading Automatic the six picks XIII-XVIII inclusive, corresponding to the automatic period of operation. During this period the loom operates somewhat after the same manner as the looms shown in the aforesaid patents, that is, when the boxes are rising at the right hand end of the loom with a shuttle in box 6 the vdetector can indicate, the lay being at or near front center at this time. On the next front center bobbin transfer occurs if it has been called, this operation requiring that the shuttle box 6 bein raised position for the greater part of two successive picks. Since picking occurs approximately one-quarter pick after transfer is completed there is not time in the loom cycle to get box 6 down in alignment with the lay for picking and to take care of this condition a blank or nonpicking beat isprovided for.

In Fig. 2 the positions of the boxes is assumed to be those occupied by them between the time of picking at or about top center and boxing of the shuttle at or about bottom center, so that the boxes areshown in the position they occupy when the lay is on back center. The shiftv of the boxes occurs between the position indicated by the Roman numerals, and. after shuttle S1 has entered box 6 this box will rise and the weft detector-can indicate at the time in the sequence shown by the word Indicate in Fig. 2, upper occurrence. If indication has been given transfer will occur on the next forward beat at a time inthe loom sequence represented bythe. word Transfer, upper occurrence, and the upper shuttle will Abe repleni'shed by a bobbin drawn from the front stack 3S due to the` fact that there is a lowr'ollfon chain bar XIV in column b, to cause the selector 39 to register lwith the front stack. y .l

The next picker stick to be actuated, loom beat XV will be stick V.20,fbut box 7 is empty at this time so that this operation is a nonpicking beat. Action of picker stick at this time is determined by the column d which for beat XV has a low roll causing the arms and 26 tov be moved to the right from the position shown in Fig.l 1. f

Replenishr'nent of shuttie S2 can occur in an operation and XVIII.

which begins between the positions XVII and XVIIIas shown by the words Indicate Lower Position when the feeler will indicate if shuttle S2 is depleted and transfer will occur on the front center following position XVIII as indicated by the words Transfer Lower Position. The nonpicking beat, however, occurs one pick earlier than it did with respect to shuttle S1, the picker stick 20 again having an idle nonpicking motion after replenishment of shuttle SZ, there being no shuttle in box 7 at this time. The chain then starts its next repeat and as shown in position I, Fig. 2, shuttle S1 will be picked toward the right while gang RG is up and as soon as shuttle S1 enters box 7 gang GR can descend to permit replenished shuttlerSZ to be picked.

The bobbin forv replenishment of shuttle S2 will be drawn from stack 36, the selector 39 being in position to select a bobbin from this stack due to the fact that rolls in column b are under lever 60 for beats XVII During'V the operation just given only the first half of the chain shown in Fig. 6 will be used and position XVIII will be followed by position I.

It is customary to wind bobbins in weft replenis'hing looms with a reserve bunch which can be drawn on during flights of the shuttle occurring after the feeler indicates weft exhaustion. In the present instance the bobbins are wound with bunches somewhat larger than those customarily found in the more usual type of weft replenishing looms because of the fact that it is necessary to be able to continue weaving without interruption by the weft stop motion from any point in the combined nonautomatic and automatic sequences until the shuttle is in position for replenishment. Thus, shuttle Sl, shown as being active in position I, Fig. 2, could have its main supply of weft used up so that' the bunch is reached during its flight for this' position I. This shuttle, however, will be active for six picks during the nonautomatic period and for another pick during the automatic period, so that itsv reserve bunch should contain at least enough weft for seven picks. Shuttle S2 could have its main supply of weft depleted in its liight represented in position II of Fig. 1' and this shuttle willals'o be active for six picks during the nonautomatic period and will be active for twopicks during the automatic period so that it will require a bunch suiliciently large to lay eight picks. For the sake of uniformity it may be desirable to provide both the shuttles S1 and S2 with the same size bunch, this bunch in addition to carrying eight picks being provided also with the usual additional pick so that both bobbins will be wound with a nine-pick bunch. By using reserve bunches of the size just described either of the two shuttles can continue to weave from any point in the combined nonautomatic and automatic periods when its bunch is reached until it is again in position for replenishment; This gives assurance that the loom will run throughout the nonaut'ornat'ic periodV so that for the eighteen beats of the loom there will! be sixteen picks of cloth. This ratio is much higher than that which could be obtained if the loom ran automatically at all times, and the production inthe nonautomaticV period can be taken advantage of.

The modified form of the invention is` provided to take? advantage ofthe full capacity of a f our stack magazine and in thisv form the lower half of the chain representedv in Fig. 6 will be used with the upperhalf, so that: they Vchain willl have. thirty-sixY bars'. During beats XIX through XXXVI the controls already describedY will be repeated except for the lcolorselector. v Column b at bars' XXXI' and XXXII. are provided'with` a third-size A. roll'. 66 to cause the selector 39 to draw a bobbin from stack4 37 forthe replenishment of shuttle S1, and the lasttwo bars of the chain in column b carry a fourth size roll 67 to' enable ay bobbin for the replenishment of shuttle S2 to Vbe drawn-from stack 38.- In this moditied form of tlieinve'ntion thereI are two' successive sequences of equaL length, the first: of which' can draw bobbins from the front pair of stacks 35 and 36, and the second half of which can draw bobbins from the rear pair of stacks 37-38. Upon completion of rotation of whole chain shown in Fig. 6 bar I will again be in control position and the color selector will return to register with stack 35. Throughout the thirty-six beats of the modied form it is therefore possible to draw a bobbin from each of the four stacks. The other controls, such as that for the detector and the picking and also the weft fork as well as the two gangs of shuttle boxes will be the same for beats XIX-XXXVI, inclusive, as for the first eighteen beats.

In ordinary loom operation in which there is a shuttle in flight every beat of the loom the protector mechanism will be prevented from stopping the loom on arrival of the shuttle at one end or the other of the lay, but when the operation of the loom is such that certain beats are nonpicking, such for instance as beats XV and XVIII, Fig. 2 in which no shuttle is in flight, it is necessary in order to attain continuous loom operation to make provision for preventing loom stoppage by the protector mechanism.

On beat XIV, Fig. 2, shuttle S2 is moving toward the lower box 9 and this box must eventually be moved down to the position shown in XVI. If this down motion were effected on beat XV there would then be an empty box 8 at the left end and an empty box 7 at the right end and the protector mechanism would stop the loom. To avoid this condition gang LG is kept up on beat XV to avoid stoppage by the protector mechanism.

A similar condition exists with respect to shuttle S1 in beats XVII and XVIII. When shuttle S2 is picked out of box 9, beat XVII, shuttle SI is in the raised box 8 and upon arrival of shuttle S2 in gang RG it is raised.

If the gang LG should remain up for pick XVIII there would then be no shuttle level with the race on the nonpicking beat and the loom would be stopped. ln order to avoid this condition gang LG is lowered from the position shown in XVII to that shown in XVIII on the nonpicking beat so that shuttle S1 will be in active position I and prevent the protector mechanism from stopping the loom.

Protector mechanisms are well-known and only part of the mechanism is shown in Fig. 3, where the protector rod 75 extending across the loom has a iinger 76 at each end thereof which will be moved forwardly, to the right, Fig. 3, by presence of a shuttle in an actively placed shuttle box, to depress a dagger 77 on the protector rod below stopping mechanism indicated at 78. By controlling the gang LG from the chain to position the shuttles S1 and S2 as just described the protector dagger will be prevented from engaging the stopping mechanism 78 on the nonpicking beats of the loom.

In the foregoing description, particularly Fig. 2, there has been set forth a sequence of operations which is completed in eighteen beats of the loom, but the invention is not limited to this number. Where it is desired to attain an even higher efficiency than that attainable with an eighteen beat sequence more beats can be devoted to the nonautomatic part of the Vsequence and the bunches on the reserve bobbins made proportionately larger.

No supportfor gang RGduring bobbin transfer is shown hereinbut if such support is desired it may be of the type shown in co-pending application Serial No. 389,589, filed oneven date herewith by Krukonis, now Patent No. 2,699,183.

In ,the description Vthus far. given no particular attention has been paid to the size of the yarn carried by the shuttle. There are conditions, however, under which it is desirable to weave pickand pick fabric with two wefts of markedly different sizes. In such cases the length of weft on the reserve Vbunch of the larger yarn would be considerably less vthan the length of the weft in a bunch of the same approximate size of the smaller yarn. The weft detector shown in Fig. 5 should preferably remain in the same position when detecting either the large or small yarn and this requires that the length of the bunch measured lengthwise of the shuttle should preferably be the same for both sizes of yarn.

In order to take care of this condition it may be desirable to have more weft detecting operations in the sequence of beats for the larger yarn than for the smaller yarn. In Fig. 8 it was assumed that the weft is rather large in diameter so that the weft in its bunch 70A will not be as long as the weft in bunch 70B of the bobbin shown in Fig. 9. These two yarns can be carried by shuttles SA and SB and the order in which these shuttles come into action and can be replenished is indicated in Fig. 7, which should be understood to be only one example in which the invention can be utilized to operate with wefts of two different sizes.

In Fig. 7 the shuttle SA is shown as being capable of indicating weft exhaustion after position al and also again after aXI, whereas shuttle SB withthe smaller diameter weft will be capable of detection after only one beat in the repeat, the beat shown in Fig. 7 being aVI. From the description already given in connection with Fig. 2 it is believed that the sequence of operations indicated in Fig. 7 can be readily understood. The conditions set forth in Fig. 7 may be such for instance that the length of weft in the bunch 79A is approximately half the length of weft in the bunch 70B. Under these conditions satisfactory operating of the loom can be obtained by detecting shuttle SA twice as often as shuttle SB, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this ratio since the degree of relative sizes of the weft might require an even greater frequency of detection of the larger or coarser yarn. It will be suicient if the control means operates the loom in such manner that a shuttle will be detected at intervals of beats corresponding approximately to the linear length of weft on the corresponding bunch.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention sets forth means wherein a two-shuttle pick and pick loom can be operated at an eiciency much higher than that which is attainable in former automatic operation, this result being attained by having part of the operation nonautomatic and the remainder of it automatic. During the nonautomatic sequence means are provided to prevent operation of the weft replenishing mechanism, the means for accomplishing this purpose as set forth herein being prevention of indication of the weft detector when the loom is weaving nonautomatically. It will also be seen that the picking mechanism is controlled in such manner that there will be no picking operation for at least two beats during the sequence of automatic operation to provide time for the detection and replenishment for a shuttle in box 6. Also, in order to attain continuous operation during the automatic sequence provision is made to maintain a shuttle in active position on the nonpicking beats to prevent the protector mechanism from stopping the loom.

Furthermore, it ,will be seen that the invention can be adapted for use in the weaving of pick and pick fabrics having wets of two different sizes, this result being attained by providing for weft replenishing operations at intervals corresponding approximately to the numberof picks which will be laid bya reserve bunch. Also, this mode of operation illustrated more particularly in Fig. 7 permits the weft detector to remain in the same position when detecting both large and small wefts without requiring over-size bunch of large weft or shifting of the leeler when detecting coarse or large yarn.

. `Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, what is claimedis:

l. In a loom having two shifting shuttle boxes at one end thereof and operating with two shuttles having distinotive weft running pick and pick, weft replenishing mechanism at said one endof the loom normally capable 9 of Performing a weft replenishins operation for either shuttle when the latter is depleted of weft and 'is inactive in the upper shuttle box in rcplenishing position, ,control means for the shuttle boxes and weft replenishing mechanisrn causing the loom to operate nonautomatically with respect to weft replenishment for a period of successive beats of the loom during which one or the other of said two shuttles is active every beat of the period and then operative automatically with respect to weft replenishment for a second period of successive beats of the loom, the periods alternating during loom operation, each shuttle duringthe second period being in said replenishing position at least once, and a reserve weft bunch in each shuttle of sufficient length to permit continued weaving from 1 any beat in either period when the bunch is reached in the weaving operation until the shuttle reaches the replenishing position thereof in the next of said second periods.

2; The loom set forth in claim l wherein the weft replenishing mechanism includes a weft detector operative to initiate a weft replenishing operation and the cont-rol means prevents operation of the detector during said periods of non-automatic weaving and permits operation of detector during the periods of automatic weaving.

3. The loom set forth in claim l wherein the control means is a pattern chain having a group of bars which correspond to the periods of nonautomatic weaving and a second group of bars correspond to the periods of automatic weaving and said first group is effective to prevent operation of the weft replenishing mechanism and the second group is effective to permit operation of the weft replenis'hing mechanism.

4. In a loom having two shifting shuttle boxes at one end thereof `and operating with two shuttles having distinct-ive weft running pick and pick, weft replenishing mechanism a-t said one end of the loom normally capable l of performing a weft replenis'hing operation for either shuttle `when the latter is -depleted of weft and lis inactive in the upper shuttle box in replenishing position, control means for the lshuttle boxes and weft replenishing mechanism causing the loom to operate nonautomatically with respect to weft replenishment for la period of successive beats of the loom -and then operate automatically with respect to weft replenishment for -a second period of successive beats of the loom, the periods alternating during loom operation, every beat of the loom during the first period being productive of cloth and two-thirds of the beats of lthe loom during said second period being productive `of cloth and every third beat of the loom during said second period being nonproductive of cloth, each shuttle during the second period being in said replenishing position at leastonce, land a reserve weft bunch in each shuttle of sufficient length to permit continued weaving from any beat in either period when the bunch is reached in the weaving opy eration until the shuttle reaches the replenishing position thereof in the next of said second periods.

5. In a `loom having shifting shuttle boxes at each end thereof and operating with two shuttles having distinctive weft running pick land pick, weft replenishing mechanism at one end of the loom normally capable v Vof performing a weft `repleni-shing operation for either shuttle when the latter is depleted of weft and i-s Vin rcplenishing position at the replenishing end of the loom,

control means for the shuttle boxes'and weft replenishing mechanism causing the loom to operate nonautomatically Iand present operationof the replenishing mechanism for nonautomatic. periods of Vsuccessive beats of the loom alternating with automatic periodsof successivebeats of the loom during which the replenishing.. mechanism can operateA each shuttle after'being active for one beatof the -loom in-a nonautomatic period being 10 a reserve weft bunch .in each shuttle of sufcient length to permitv continued weaving from any' beat in any period when the bunch is reached 'in the weaving operation until the shuttle reaches the replenishing position thereof vin the next automatic period of operation.

6. In a loom having shifting shuttle boxes at each end thereof and operating with two shuttles having distinctive weft running pick and pick, weft replenishing mechanism -at one end of the loom normally capable of performing a weft replenishing operation `for either shutt-le when the latter is depleted of weft and is in replenishing position at the replenishing end of the loom, control means for the .shuttle .boxes Iand Aweft replenishing mechanism causing the loom to operate nonautomatically and prevent operation of the replenishing mechanism for nonautom'atic periods of successive beats of the loom alternating with automatic periods of successive beats of the loom during which the replenishin'g mechanism can operate, every beat ofthe loom during the nonautomatic periods being productive of cloth land twothirds Iof the bea-ts of the loom vduring the automatic periods being productive of cloth and neither shuttle being picked during one-third of the beats of the loom during the automatic periods, each shuttle during the second period being in replenishing position at least once, and a reserve weft bunch in each shuttle of sufcient length to permit continued weaving fromany beat in any period when the bunch is reached in the weaving operation until the shuttle reaches the replenishing position Ithereof in the next automatic peri-od of operation.

7. The loom set lforth inl claim 6 wherein the loom has protection means and the control means causes a sequence of box shiftings for the automatic periods in such manner that for every beat in the latter periods in which no shuttle is picked one or the other of said shuttle-s willl be in position to prevent operation of the protection means, provided the shuttles -are properly boxed. A

8. The loom set forth in claim 6 wherein the loom has protection means and the control means causes a sequence of box shiftings for the nonautomatic periods and a second sequence of shiftings for the automatic periods in such manner that for every beat in both of said sequences one or the other of said shuttles will be in position to prevent operation of the protection means, provid-ed the shuttles are properly boxed.

9. The loom set forth in claim 6 wherein continued operation of the loom is dependent upon location of one or the other of said shuttles in a shuttle box aligned with the lay on thebeats of the loom when no shuttle yis picked, andcontrol means for the gangs of shuttle boxes and the picking mechanism causing said gangs and said picking mechanism Lto cooperate to cause a shuttle to be in a shuttle box aligned with the lay on the beats of thev loom on which no shuttle is picked.

l0. The method of operating a two-shuttle pick and pick loom consisting in the following steps: operating the loom non-automatically with respect to weft replenishment for a period of successive beats during which the shuttles are active every beat but in alternation, then operating the loom' automatically with respect to weft replenishment for another period of successive beats, and providing each shuttle with a reserve bunch of weft long enough to enable the shuttle to continue weaving lfrom any` beat'in either period when the bunch is reached in the weaving operation until the shuttle canv be replenished during the next succeeding period of automatic weaving.

1l. in a weft replenishing pick and pick loom operating with two shuttles each to beactive for one pick yand then followed by the other shuttle, two shifting shuttle successive beats of the loomfand the Other shuttle being in the lower box on the first of said two beats, picking siasi-,79s

11 mechanism, and control means for the picking mechanism causing the latter to pick said other shuttle out of said lower box on the rst of said two beats and preventing the picking mechanism from picking said other shuttle back to said lower box on the second of said beats.

the following steps: operating the loom for a given sequence of beats during which each shuttle is in position to have its weft detected and in position to oe replenished a plurality of times, effecting detection of weft, and replenishment of weft if necessary for each shuttle at least once during said given sequence of beats, and providing each shuttle with a reserve weft bunch of sufficient size to enable the shuttle to Weave for as many beats as it is called into action during said' given sequence of beats.

i3. The method of operating a loom with a pluraiity of shuttles to weave two distinctive wefts pick and pick consisting in the following steps: operating the loom for a given sequence of beats during which each shuttle is in position to have its weft detected and in position to be replenished a plurality of times, effecting detection of weft and replenishment of weft if necessary for each shuttle at least once but less frequently than the shuttle is in said position to have its weft detected during said given sequence of beats, and providing each shuttle with a reserve bunch of weft of suicient size to enable the shuttle to Weave for as many beats as it is called into action during said given sequence.

14. The method of operating a loom with a plurality of shuttles to weave two distinctive wefts pick and pick consisting in the following steps: operating the loom for a given sequence of beats during ,which each shuttle is in position to have its weft detected and in position to be replenished a plurality ofl times, electing detection of weft and replenishment of weft if necessary for each shuttle at least once but less frequently than the shuttle is in said position to have its weft detected during said given sequence of beats, and providing each shuttle with a reserve bunch of weft of sufficient size to enable the shuttle to weave for as many beats as it is called into action between successive detections of the condition of the weft thereof.

l5. The method of operating a loom with a plurality of shuttles to weave two different wefts of unequal size pick and pick consisting in the following steps: providing the shuttle having the smaller weft with a reserve bunch of sufficient length to enable the shuttle to weave for a given number of beats, providing the shuttle having the larger weft with a reserve bunch of sufhcient length to enable the shuttle to weave for a number of beats less than said given number of beats, detecting each shuttle at intervals of beats in the sequence corresponding to the number of beats which the bunch thereof can weave, and

. 12 replenishing the weft of each shuttle with weft corresponding to it when the weft thereof is depleted.

16. The method of operating a loom with a plurality of shuttles to weave two different wefts of unequal size pick and pick consisting in the following steps: providing one shuttle with a reserve bunch of sufficient length to enable the shuttle to weave for a given number of beats, providing the other shuttle with a reserve bunch of sufficient lengthto enable the shuttle to weave for a number of beats not necessarily the same as said given number of beats, detecting each shuttle at intervals of beats in the sequence corresponding to the number of beats which the bunch thereof can weave, and replenishing the weft of each shuttle with weft corresponding to it when the weft thereof is depleted.

i7. ln a loom having shifting shuttle boxes at each end thereof and operating with two shuttles having distinctive weft running pick and pick, weft replenishing mechanism at one end of the loom normally capable of performing a weft replenishing operation for either shuttle when the latter is depleted of weft and is in replenishing position at the replenishing end of the loom, control means for the shuttle boxes and weft replenishing mechanism causing the loom to operate nonautomatically and prevent operation of the replenishing mechanism for nonautomatic periods of successive beats of the loom alternating with automatic periods of successive beats of the loom during which the replenishing mechanism can operate, each shuttle after being active for one beat of the toorn in a nonautornatic period being followed on the next beat of the nonautomatic period by the other shuttle, each shuttle during an automatic period corresponding thereto being in replenishing position at least once, and reserve weft bunch in each Shuttle of sufficient length to permit continued Weaving from any beat in any period when the bunch is reached in the weaving operation until the shuttle reaches the next automatic period of operation in which the shuttle can be replenished.

i8. The loom set forth in claim 17 wherein the shuttles carry wefts of dierent sizes and the control means causes the loom to have more periods of automatic operation with respect tov the shuttle having the larger weft than with respect to the shuttle having the smaller weft.

i9. The loom set forth in claim 18 wherein the reserve bunches of weft on both shuttles are of substantially the same length measured lengthwise of their shuttles and the length of `weft in a reserve bunch of the larger weft is less than the length of weft in a reserve bunch of the smaller weft.

20. The loom set forth in claim i9 wherein the control means includes a weft detector which occupies the same -position whether detecting large or small weft.

No references cited. 

